MOPH urges ambulance safety measures

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has expressed its concerns regarding the safety of patients and staff operating on ambulances for referring, urging all hospitals to uphold to MOPH’s announcement on road safety.

The MOPH Spokesman Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai has said regarding an accident to a crashed ambulance in Kanchanaburi on the night of 16 May 2016, stating that the incident was caused by heavy rain and flash flood. He revealed that the Minister of Public Health has urged all related agencies to aid in the assistance o the affected patients and staff.

He has said all hospitals are reminded to strictly uphold ambulance safety standards and the MOPH’s announcement regarding organizational standards on road safety.

All ambulance in service must receive checks for vehicle and safety standards, and drivers are required to undergo training courses and to drive within the legal speed at no more than 80 kilometers per hour on regular highway, or according to local laws, and to obey all traffic rules.

Ambulance drivers should change their shift every 150 kilometers or 2 hours, while hospitals should consider enrolling their vehicle in the insurance package which covers patients and operating officials, and to equip ambulances with GPS and webcam to enable the tracking and speed control system.

The general public and motorists are also asked to allow ambulances and emergency vehicles to pass over them when driving.